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“Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.”
“If something is humanly possible, it’s attainable by you too.“
“Ask yourself at every moment, ‘is this necessary?’“
“What stands in the way . . . becomes the way.“
“You always have the option of having no opinion.”
“We love ourselves more than other people, but we care about their opinion more than our own.”
“If it’s endurable, then endure it and stop complaining, even to yourself.”
“The best revenge is to not be like your enemies.”
“If it is not right, do not do it. If it is not true, do not say it.”
“Don’t you see how much you have to offer? And yet you still settle for less.”
“You have power over your own mind, not outside events.”
“Everything is born from change.”
“Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions, not outside.”
“Have I done something for the common good? Then I share in the benefits.”
“The present is all we have to live in, or to lose.”
“Get back up when you fall. Celebrate behaving like a human.”
“Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.”
“You can also commit injustice by doing nothing.”
“Receive without pride, let go without attachment.”
“The tranquility that comes when you stop caring what they say, or think, or do. Only what you do.”
“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what’s left and live it properly.”
About Emperor Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor and philosopher who is considered one of the most important figures in the history of Stoicism. Born in 121 AD, Aurelius was the last of the “Five Good Emperors” and is best known for his “Meditations,” a series of personal reflections on life, ethics, and philosophy.
His writings were heavily influenced by Stoicism, a philosophical school of thought that emphasizes the importance of living in accordance with nature and accepting one’s fate. Marcus Aurelius believed in the concept of Stoic acceptance, which holds that events in our lives are outside of our control, and that we should strive to be indifferent to them and instead focus on our own actions and inner character.
Marcus Aurelius was known for his wisdom and philosophical insights, and his Meditations are still widely read and studied today. In them, he reflects on a wide range of topics, including the nature of the universe, the role of reason in our lives, and the importance of living a virtuous life.
One of the key themes in Aurelius’s writing is the idea of living in the present moment. He believed that we should not be distracted by the past or the future, but instead focus on the present and make the most of our time here on earth. This idea is closely connected to the Stoic concept of mindfulness, which emphasizes the importance of staying grounded in the present and not getting caught up in worries about the future or regrets about the past.
Marcus Aurelius was also a successful emperor and military leader. He is best known for his role in the Marcomannic Wars, a series of conflicts with Germanic tribes that threatened the Roman Empire. Aurelius was able to repel the invaders and maintain the empire’s borders, but the wars took a heavy toll on him and his armies.
In the end, Marcus Aurelius’s commitment to Stoicism and his belief in the importance of living in accordance with nature helped him to cope with the challenges of his life and the difficult decisions he had to make as emperor. His Meditations remain a powerful reminder of the timeless wisdom of Stoicism and the importance of living a virtuous and thoughtful life.